The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released a study showing that Volvo’s XC60 active safety systems contribute to it being engaged in 27% fewer damage accidents and 51% fewer bodily injury accidents than other mid-size luxury SUVs.

Always according to the study, the XC60 is also 19% less likely to be involved in accidents compared to other models in Volvo’s range. IIHS said that this is due to the SUV's standard low-speed collision avoidance system called City Safety.

This system uses an infrared laser sensor to spot obstacles at speeds from 2-19 mph (3-30 km/h). If it detects that the driver doesn’t respond in the appropriate time, it automatically engages the brakes in order to avoid a possible collision.

HDLA and IIHS president, Adrian Lund, said the statistics show the belief that Volvo drivers are safer than those driving other brands is false: “Driver mistakes are responsible for 90% of accidents. Collision avoidance systems can help distracted motorists who fail to notice an impending accident”.

The City Safety system is now also standard on the 2011 and 2012 S60 and the 2012 S80 and XC70 models.

In addition, Volvo also offers the optional Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake system. This uses a forward-looking radar and a camera that scan objects in front of the car comparing them to 10,000 forms programmed in its database in just 50 milliseconds. It can track up to 64 pedestrians simultaneously and if it detects a possible accident, it warns the driver with a light and a sound.

If there is no reaction on his or her part, the car activates the brakes in their full stopping force, avoiding low-speed accidents and decreasing the consequences of accidents at more than 19 mph (32 km/h).